One of the Greatest Movie Ever Made

Movies require a certain amount of "regular" votes to make entry into the Top 250. Presumably it lacks them, which is what disqualifies it.

I can't honestly say that it's one of the best films of all time. One of the best films of its genre, certainly, and Melville's greatest work, definitely.

I liked the usual suspects and shawshank so i've got no qualm with them but I agree, Le cercle rouge was one of the best movies ive ever seen of any genre. Alain Delon is a great actor. Good stuff.

i am yet to see this film but i saw le samurai yesterday and it was a snooze fest.
he is great in setting up mood, music and settings but this minimal talk wont work in modern era.
Being able to express is a fundamental of method acting which was pioneered by brando and it is a must in corporate world. you may be a genius but if you do not open your mouth you are useless. you must be able to express your ideas and also defend it and more-ever sell it-which means others should believe in you.

that is how the whole new corporate world got evolved( all the top companies in the world)
just like the leader needs to be on top of his game the same holds for the protagonist of the film. No matter how evil or how dark are his ideas and principles. He has to express it not just by moves but by opening that mouth( talky). Being taciturn wont help and this is where the director is not in connection with the modern world.

The french connection which has similar plot has better action and also plenty of talk and well admired universal hit for this reason.

And the french, the spanish, the italians, the english, the germans all love to talk,talk and talk just like americans. But in the movies they are deliberately trying to show whom they are not! And this is the reason it just do not fly with wider audience. you see some find these films very very slow, less talk, immersed in its own bubble kind of thing.

The RIFIFI is a much better film as it was done by american influenced guy in france. you can see plenty of talk and also no talk during that scene and other areas.

the broad away directors who graduated to big cinema namely elia kazaan changed all this. He bought in brando and dean to bring this new dynamics in the film. Like both blow hot and cold( not talk during action but plenty of stage drama when not in action).

quentin tarantino a great film maker gives lot of talk time and also has elaborate scenes with exaggerated dialogues just for this reason.
nolan also has lot of exposition despite great action for his films.


depardieu is a great actor just for this reason( he loves to express talk). Roman polanski who knows a thing or two about both styles of cinema is another classic example.

we are human beings and only we have the ability to talk and express ideas. we got to open that mouth as long much as possible and earn the 'pause'!

these films just do not fly due to lack of real interaction. In real life we just do not go to another thief to change plates. you set up a call and tell where and how. There is always how and why and not making it obvious without saying is not an option.

the director has done a dis-service to the characters buy not indulging them in a meaningful dialogues.

i feel this is the biggest drawback of his cinemas.